Email Discount Network Mystery charges, mystery "refund" check Henderson Nevada

We received a check in the mail today for $1.24 from Email Discount Network with a note that said "thank you for shopping with EDN. We've attached your cash-back program check; the money is yours to keep without obligation. [rest deleted, you get the idea]

First red flag: no one in the house signed up or shops through any such "network" - we do a fair bit of shopping online, but it's either from large, well known entities (Amazon, Lands End, Zappos, etc.) or one of the shops aligned with Amazon/Yahoo/Ebay or the like. We use a credit card or PayPal, never any sort of roundabout (e.g. phone bill add-on) method.

Second red flag: the check is drawn on Silicon Valley Bank, Pittsburgh, PA. Hmmm, I've been to Pittsburgh and lived in Silicon Valley. I don't see the connection. Obviously a ploy to try and establish credibility.

Third red flag: under the endorsement box on the back of the check the statement "Endorsement of check constitutes a complete settlement of your claim." - Huh? I thought this was my "thank you for checking out the fabulous discounts" EDN offered. I didn't even know we had an outstanding claim against them!

So, I call the phone company who forwards me to the EDN customer service line somewhere on the other side of the planet. The representative insisted that they would immediately cancel the "service" (email service, mind you - I've had my own domains for over 10 years and have no need for anyone else to provide me service) BUT FIRST she wanted to tell me about all the fabulous opportunities I would be missing out on. I FIRMLY informed her that I didn't care what they offered, all I wanted was a prompt refund of the fraudulent charges. After she chased her tail a good bit (I refused to answer her questions with anything other than a demand for the charges to be reversed.)

Finally I received an email cancellation notice with this reassuring clause:

"Please be advised, however, that before a consumer signs up for our services, all material terms of those services, including all costs, are fully disclosed. The consumer specifically confirms that he or she is at least eighteen (18) years of age and that he or she is, or has authorization from, the telephone line subscriber to bill charges to the telephone number that they have provided. We also require the consumer to provide information including: date of birth, mother's maiden name, a valid email address (where an order confirmation is sent within 24 to 48 hours of sign-up), and we capture the Computer's IP address for security and verification purposes."

Obviously a fail-safe method! How foolish of me to think that they might be participating in a less-than-honorable scheme!

So I've got confirmation of the cancellation, I'll dispute the charge with my phone provider and we'll see how long it takes EDN to refund my money.

Kit
Wilmington, North Carolina
U.S.A.